The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-12-31
ANOTHER STRIKE
The Employment of Non-Union Freight
Handlers by Charles NJ. Taylor's Sons,
at Philadeiphia, Given the Excuse
for General Walk-out on the Read
ing Railroad-I 900 Men Out.

A dispatch of the 23d from Philadel
phla says: Over LOCO men employed
by the Philadelphia 4 Reading Railroad
Company on their lines running from
West Falls to the Port Richmond coal
wharves, either as trainmen. coal
handlers or freight hlndlers, cult
work this afternoon at half past
1 o'clock. This action was caused by
the introduction of a train crew of five
nOn-union men TO do the work upon
which union men had been employed,
but who had been discharged. This
movement viii be communicated to all
the employees OF the road and a general
strike on all the lines of the company
NAV be the result.
The trouble originated Yesterday
morning, when crew of freight hand
lers, engaged in shifting ears loaded
with flour into pier control 4 by the
firm of Charles VI. 1aylor 5 Sons, re-
used 70 deliver any more reight to the
firm unless the non-uulon laNorers en-
plOyed In handling the ireig 1t should
be discharged. Supt. Sweiga d issued
an order discharging tn crew who re-
fused To handle the ireigh. " .d threat
ened the same punishment to other
crews who would follow the precedent.
All the remaining force, which consisted
Of four crews, refusing to obey the order,
were discharged. The news of the dis
cha ge quickly spread among other en-
ployes Of the company IN Port Rich
mond, and the stevedores to
the number Of about $50 men
mittee of Knights of Labor called
upon Gle eral Manager Mcleod and
Supt. SWeigard with the purpose OF set
Ting the difficulty and preventinga gen.
eral strike. The object was unsuccess nj,
however, as the officers would not listen
to any excuses, ella ming that the work
had to be done, and il the present en-
ployes found it difficult to obey orders,
the management would be compelled to
look elsew here for help.
This morning the officials of the road
went to work TO lift the blockade and
secured one crew of non-union men. 1t
was feared they would be inter cred
with by the strikers and in response to
Il call upon the authorities Il BODY of
about 250 policemen were stationed so
as to best guard against interference
No disturbance occurred, however,
and the police found no occasion
to make any arrests The NOV
ing of the bOycotted freight
began about $50 P. NJ. The news oI the
ItIlGN I'll OL NOIh WIS IuiGhlN tOluuluul-
Gated among the other men at work and
concerted action of quitting, was
speedily agreed upon. An hour was
given TO allow the employees on the road
from West Falls TO the river, to learn of
the determination, and at 4:30, when
the signal was given, every man stopped
work.
Shifting engines that were working on
the coal wharves quickly ran to their
usual resting place until the whole
number, fourteen were placed in one
line, and the crews Immediately drew
the fires and blew out the boilers
Men that were wheeling coal dropped
their barrows. switchmen closed their
switches and left tie main line open;
conductors, br kemen and other en-
ployes LETT their work and quickly
went to their homes. Trouble is an
ticipated for several days and it is
probable that the police force will be re-
tanned to protect the property of the
company.
The representative of the five assem-
blies of Reading railroad employees, who
have formed National Trade District
assembly of the Knights of Labor, met
tonight and called a general convention
for tomorrow afternoon to take further
action in the matter of the strike. II is
said upon good authority that word has
passed along the line of the entire Read
ing system, and that the 10000 or ,UO0
men in the service of that company will
re use to 90 to work tomorrow